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Abu Dhabi Law No. 14/2021 On Personal Status for Non-Muslim Foreigners in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
Article 1 - Definitions
In implementation of the provisions of this Law, the following terms and expressions shall have the meanings assigned thereto
unless the context requires otherwise:
1- Provide a flexible and developed judicial mechanism for the settlement of the personal status disputes of Foreigners.
2- Enhance the status and competitiveness of the Emirate on the international level as one of the most attractive
destinations for human talents and competencies.
3- Take a pioneering initiative in the Emirate for the issuance of the first civil law regulating the family matters of
Foreigners, according to international practices.
4- Guarantee the right of the Foreigner to be subject to an internationally recognised law that takes into consideration
the relevant approaches of culture, language and customs.
5- Achieve and protect the best-interests of the children, particularly in case of parental separation.
6- Reduce the disputes and quarrels resulting from the Divorce.
7- Maintain the role of the mother and the father in the post-Divorce phase.
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Abu Dhabi Law No. 14/2021 On Personal Status for Non-Muslim Foreigners in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
1- The spouses shall not be less than 18 years old. Their age shall be verified by virtue of any official document issued
by the state of their nationality.
2- Both spouses shall explicitly give their consent to the marriage before the Authentication Judge, and shall prove that
there is no legal impediment that prevents such marriage.
3- Both spouses shall sign the Declaration Form.
4- Marriage shall not be established between siblings, or with children, grandchildren, or uncles.
5- Any other conditions prescribed in a decision of the Chairman.
1- Years of marriage: the amount of the alimony shall increase as per the length of marriage.
2- Age of the wife: the age affects the alimony payment; a young wife gets a low alimony amount, and vice-versa.
3- The economic status for every spouse, according to an accounting expert report prepared by an accredited expert at
the Department. Such expert shall be delegated by the Court for the assessment of the economic status of every spouse.
4- The extent to which the husband contributes to the Divorce due to his neglect or his mistakes or by committing any
act that leads to Divorce.
5- Any spouse shall compensate the other for any material or moral damage resulting from the Divorce.
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Abu Dhabi Law No. 14/2021 On Personal Status for Non-Muslim Foreigners in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
6- The financial damages that affect any spouse due to Unilateral Divorce.
7- The father (former husband) shall pay the custody expenses and costs to the mother during Joint Custody, for a
temporary period that does not exceed two years in conformity with the findings of the accounting expert report.
8- Whether or not the wife takes care of the children.
9- In all cases, the alimony shall no longer be paid to the former wife in case she marries another man.
A new application may be submitted to amend the alimony every year or upon any change in circumstances.
Article 12 - Procedures for Opening the File of the Inheritance, and for its Distribution
By a decision of the Chairman or his representative, a guidance manual shall be issued concerning the procedures of
inheritance for non-Muslim Foreigners.
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Abu Dhabi Law No. 14/2021 On Personal Status for Non-Muslim Foreigners in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
Article 15 - Exclusion of the Personal Status Cases for the Foreigners from Consideration of the Family
Guidance
The Divorce cases of the Foreigners shall be excluded from being considered by family guidance committees, and shall be
directly referred to the Court to issue a judgment in this regard from the first session.
1- Testimony: equality in testimony before the Court, as the testimony of a female shall be taken into consideration
before the Court same as the testimony of a male Foreigner without distinction.
2- Inheritance: equality between men and women in the distribution of the inheritance according to the provisions of
this Law, without distinction on grounds of gender, religion or nationality of the inheritor.
3- Right to effectuate Divorce: both spouses may, equally, and unilaterally, request to effectuate Divorce, without
prejudice to their rights in terms of Divorce.
4- Joint Custody: the parents shall have equal rights regarding the child custody until the age of 16 years old, and after
this age the child shall have the right to choose between his parents.
Article 17 - A Court for Consideration of Personal Status Cases for Non-Muslim Foreigners
1- A Court shall be established in the Emirate for the consideration of personal status cases of the non-Muslim Foreigners.
Such Court shall consider all the cases related to the personal status matters of non-Muslim Foreigners having domicile, place
of residence or place of work in the Emirate.
2- The Court stipulated in this Article shall be formed of a single judge; the judge may be non-Muslim.
3- All the Forms and procedures of the Court shall be in two languages, English and Arabic.
Article 18
The laws and legislations in force in the State and the Emirate shall apply to the matters for which no special provisions are
stipulated in this Law.
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